The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1887-12-29

This % the proper placef for acquaint
ing the reader with the fact that th,
graveyard in question (together Will
q ruinous, disused chrrch) Law about
one mile from the judges. Three mile,
further was the county seat Of on,
reckless and skeptical friend Billups
One mile further was the court hous,
village, for which Mr.. May now order
ed his horse.
It had been Billups' intention to de
fer his departure to q later hour, but
finding May immovable in his resolv,
to set out in defiance OF q probabl,
soaking, he recklessly ordered hi
horse. Riding alone at night wa
such q bore.
They were approaching the grave
yard.
'That was an interesting story
that you gave Us tonight Mr.. May
Were you serious when you said thai
the thing actually occurred, or wer,
you merely amusing the ladies?"
"Serious? why, of course was; an6
what's more, did see q ghost once
though did not like to say SO before
"Saw q ghost? nonsense!' Why,
thought you said you did not believ,
in MISUNDERSTANDING that?'
'"That's screech-owl. What an un
canny voice. l don't wonder at you,
shivering."
me sh,vering at an owl! It's tn,
damp air."
"Oh," said May dryly. II don't be
lieve in ghosts any more than you do, ,
he continued. IF saw a. thousand o
them I should not believe in them. Al
q matter of fact, I have never seer
but one."
"Never seen but one! And that's
one more than any one else ever saw
''By the way, Billups, this ought
not to be g. bad night for GHOSTS; 8
flash and then darkness. When the
flash comes you know where they are
and instantly afterward you have nc
idea what they may be up to. 1t was
just such a night, at any rate, that
saw my ghost. I had been on q court.
ing expedition. and just as was rid.
ing past small opening in the woods,
in which stood the chimney of what
had been happy home, perhaps, q
flash came and saw before me, in the
middle of the road-well, as you don't
believe in 'em, you may call it any.
thing you please-but it was tall and
white and waved it's arms"
ut was a negro going to his wife's
house and taking of his hat to you."
Precisely what l thought. But
my horse was OF q different opinion.
1t was pitch dark after the flash, but
though spurred him and dashed
him he did nothing but back and
snort and tremble. Presently there
came another flash and there it was
still. slowly advancing and saving it's
arms! l demanded it's name. l fierce
ly ordered it out of the road, while
my horse plunged and quivered in
every nerve. Do you know l think
horses often imagine they SEQ ghosts u
May had no sooner uttered these
words than Billups' horse, swervine
to the right, plunged violently for
ward. closely followed by Mays.
Billups could not explain this freak
and May, although he might have
shed some light on the matter, neg
lected to do so. The toe of his right
foot thrust violently into the flank oil
BilIups' wholesome charger, and held
there, had something to do with it, no
doubt.
"What's the matter with these darn.
ed fools?" inquired May.
Ss1 10 NJ ~, -, ~ <,;,~< - IL,
Billups. It was growing very damp.
''TeIl me the rest of the story"
"Well, at last l dismounted, tied
my horse, grasped my stout whip
handle and advanced cautiously,
awaiting flash. When one came the
contounded thing stood facing me not
three yards off. It was gnashing it's
teeth: lcould hear them snap dis
tinctly."
ugh! how chill the air is! Wha-
wha-wha-what did you do?"
II let drive at him, of course, with
the butt OF my whip. It went through
HIM as though he were mist. Another
flash camea second later. Ithad van.
ished. l fell in a dead swoon. Iawoke
an hour later, and, mounting my horse,
rode madly to the house of my inamo.
rata. I fell heavily against the door
in another swoon. The family rushed
out. After q while I recovered and
told my story. Next morning the fair
young girl, whom idolized, froze me
with her chill disdain-she that had
been so tender. have rarely smiled
since. Isn't that graveyard just
ahead?'
Ivy yes. 1t is a. comfort that
neither of us believes in spirits.''
NO." said May authoritatively,
"there are no such things. Even if
they exist, they arc perfectly h harmless.
See what disadvantage my ghost
had mo at. lay in a swoon for an
hour, completely at his mercy, and
what harm did he do me? OF course
it would not become 4 poor finite be-
ing like Coleman Chisholm May to say
there are no ghosts; but rest assured
that if there are such things they are
harmless. What's that? Was that
screech owl?"
g.! didn't hear anything. What was
it like?"
II must have been mistaken" said
May. 'lC was the WIND moaning
among the graveyard shrubbery. In
fact, am sure it was nothing"
At the same time Mays horse, a
rapid walker, began TO forge ahead OF
Billups's.
Gail right" said Billups; lit is be-
ginning to rain; We had better hurry
on. And I say, May, suppose you
stop at my house tonight? In fact.
insist"
odd you hear anything them" in
quired May. mo? I can't imagine
what has gotten into me toms ht.
Let's push on" and he struck off in g.
canter. Billups kept his knee glued to
that of the lawyer. The thunder be-
gan to roll and the rain to pour.
DO you notice anything?" asked
May.
mo; what do you mean?'
h~oo